Replay installed for tomorrow's games

Wednesday

Aug 27, 2008 at 12:01 AM

The Associated Press

Umpires will be getting a third choice on potential home runs down the line: fair, foul or replay.

Umpires will be allowed to check video on home run calls starting tomorrow after Major League Baseball, guardian of America's most traditional sport, reversed its decades-long opposition to instant replay.

"Every team can go home and sleep better at night if they know the call was right," Oakland designated hitter Frank Thomas said.

Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig, who described himself as "old fashioned" when he made the announcement yesterday, softened his opposition after a rash of blown calls this year.

For now, video will be used only on so-called "boundary calls," such as determining whether fly balls went over the fence, whether potential home runs were fair or foul and whether there was fan interference on potential home runs.

"Any time you try to change something in baseball, it's both emotional and difficult," Selig said. "There's been some concern that, well, if you start here, look what it's going to lead to. Not as long as I'm the commissioner."

Replay will go into use with three series scheduled to open tomorrow: Philadelphia at the Chicago Cubs, Minnesota at Oakland and Texas at the Los Angeles Angels.

Detroit pitcher Kenny Rogers called the decision "a slap in the face of umpires that have been here for a long time" and said the decision might have been made because Alex Rodriguez lost a home run on a blown call May 21.

"It overshot the mark by far just because, what, in a Yankee game someone didn't get a homer? Please. It's happened thousands of times," Rogers said. "That's part of the game. It's the beauty of the game. Mistakes are made."

? DOWN TO FIVE: Tribune Co. CEO Sam Zell said that the media conglomerate has chosen five bidders for the Chicago Cubs.

Zell said during a conference call with lenders that separate bids have been made on storied Wrigley Field, the nation's second-oldest baseball stadium.

The team's sale must be approved by Major League Baseball.

The list reportedly included a group headed by John Canning, chairman of private equity firm Madison Dearborn Partners LLC; Internet billionaire and Dallas Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban; and the family of online brokerage Ameritrade's founder, Joe Ricketts.

? YAZ LEAVES HOSPITAL: Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski was released from a hospital one week after having triple bypass surgery.

The former Boston Red Sox outfielder had surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital after experiencing chest pains. His discharge was announced by team spokesman John Blake.

His family released a statement after the surgery saying it was "a complete success."

? BARTON ON DL: The St. Louis Cardinals placed outfielder Brian Barton on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right side muscle.

Barton was injured beating out a bunt for a single during a career-best three-hit game on Sunday.

Outfielder Nick Stavinoha, batting .337 with 16 home runs and 74 RBI at Triple-A Memphis, was recalled for his third stint with the team. He was batting .200 (5 for 25) with four RBI for St. Louis.

? KEARNS OUT: The Washington Nationals placed outfielder Austin Kearns on the 15-day disabled list because of a stress fracture in his left foot.

Kearns is expected to miss two to four weeks with the injury, which the team believes was sustained Aug. 3 when Kearns fouled a ball into his foot.

Fuentes earned his 26th save of the season in Colorado's 4-2 win over San Francisco on Monday but left the team a day later to be with his family. He can stay on the bereavement list three to seven days, but Rockies Manager Clint Hurdle said he is not putting a timetable on Fuentes' return.

? DREW HURT: J.D. Drew was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a lower back strain, leaving the Boston Red Sox without their All-Star right fielder during a tight pennant race.

Drew was put on the DL retroactive to Aug. 18, and the move opened a roster spot for right-hander Tim Wakefield, who beat Andy Pettitte and the Yankees 7-3 last night.

Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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